The role of targeted therapy in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cancer in the world. The success of HCC therapy directly depends on diagnosis of early stage of the disease and proper treatment in a timely manner. According to the current recommendations, the systemic standard chemotherapy is not the best option for treating patients with advanced HCC. Nexavar (sorafenib) is currently the only approved targeted drug for the HCC treatment. Sorafenib is the first targeted drug with proven ability to improve overall survival in patients with HCC, compared with placebo. Researchers have already gained extensive experience in treatment HCC using sorafenib within the context of international clinical trials (SHARP, Asia-Pacific, GIDEON), and in actual clinical practice in Russia.

Keywords

• hepatocellular carcinoma
• primary liver cancer
• targeted therapy
• sorafenib
• nexavar
• chemotherapy
• doxorubicin